A cobpobation of new jebsey



Re. 16,399A

Aug. 3, 1926.

G, N. `vI nnrslu-:N

VEHICLE CLOSURE M1 a D INVENToR GEO/Q65 N L /L ykf' N ATTORNEY Aug. 3 1926.

s. N. LILYGREN 4^ VEHICLE cnosuna origin.; Filed Jan'. v I1925` 2 shun-snm; z

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' Y INVENToR 650/365' N I /L )f6/PEN Bv ATTORNEY Reissued Aug. 3, 1926.

UNITED sTATEs PATENT oFFicE.

i' GIOBGE ll'.- LILYGBEN, 0I DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOB TO THE STUDEBmB COB- POBATION, Ol' SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, A CORPORATION OI NIW JERSEY.

viiriiunii cLosUmi.

wel lo. 1,548,888. dated Ju1y 14. 1925, Serial lo. 1,043, ned January 7, 1985. Application for reissue led Iovember 21, 1825. Seria] lo. 70,678.

This invention relates to closuresv for vehicles and particularly to means for operating the same.

An object of this inventionis to provide a vehicle side enclosure including lmeans for automatically raising the same havin in combination -therewith means for hol ing said enclosure in extended or operative position and means to automatically release said holding means.

Another object is to provide means for releasing -the enclosure `from operative position so that it may `be automatically withdrawn into the vehicle top.

Another object is to provide means for causing the enclosure to be automatically .withdrawn into inoperative position upon turning of the latch of the vdoor beneath the enclosure to be released.

' Another object-is to provide in a vehicle having a side curtain automatically withdrawable into the vehicle top, a catch for holding said closure in operative position above a door, and means o rable by the the oor for releasing the catch whereby e side curtains automaticall raise to inoperative position.

'I'he a ve being among the objects of the present invention, thev same consists of certain features of construction and combination `of parts to be hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings, and then claimed, having the above and other objects in view.

In the accom anying drawing? il.

lustrate -a/ suita le embodiment of thel'present invention and in which like numerals refer to like parts throughout ythe severaly diferent views, Figure 1 is a rspective view of an open type automobile aving side enclosures which ma be of the roller or sliding type vertical withdrawable into the top thereof.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of a door for the automobile illustrated in Figure 1, showin the mechanism operated by the door latc y for releasing the curtain so that itmay be raised to inoperative position.

Figure 3 is a fragmentalx'y plan view of that portion of the upper ge of the door l shown in Figure 2 which includes or which carries the curtain retaining member or catch and showing the adjacent portion of contemplates and the mechanism employed towithdraw the catch into the door to release the curtain.

Figure 4 is a framentary sectional view taken transversely t rough the door, showing the curtain catch in engagement with the lower edge of the curtain and the adjacent portion of the mechanism em loyed for withdrawi the catch into the oor.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 4 show ing the curtain catch and the curtain re tained thereby. v

Figure 6 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken centrally through the curtain perienced with the same due to their connection with the doors. l Such curtains must usually overlap-the doors to effect a complete enclosure and persons enter' or leaving the vehicle often neglect `or orget to raise the curtain before itis attempted to open such doors with resultin damage to the curtain 'and diseomiture to t e person so neglecting `or forgetting to release the curtains.

To overcome this diiculty this invention rovides a mechanism whereb when an e ort is made to open a door., t e curtain above the sameI is automatically caused to raise, thereby leavin free access through the door when open without danger of damage to the curtain. Although in the accom anying drawings the present invention is i ustrated in connection with an automobile having roller typev allowing stead of rolling, up into the top to assume ino rative sltion. l

heembo iment of the 'present invention shown in the accompanying -tdrawingsis in connection with an automobile body 10 yhaving doors 11, top 12 and roller type side enclosures 13 supported in and adapted to be rolled up into the to 12 for ino rative position, each curtain ing provide ,with a transparency 14 as is the conventional construction. Each curtain or side enclosure 13 is secured to a roller 12 positioned with-- in the top 12, as illustrated in Figure 8, of

a conventional'construction which exerts a tendency to roll the curtain 13V about it, and thereby to withdraw the same into inoperative position within the top 12. As previously mentioned, sliding or other types of curtains having spring or other means exerting a tendency to withdraw the curtain into the top-for inoperative osition are equally applicable to this invention. In using such curtains it is evident that means must necessarily be provided for holding the same in extended osition. This is'accomplished in the e'm iment shown b the use of a pin or catch 15 carried b an normally projecting from the side o each door 11 which is out of reach of the operator, into the top 12.

The lower face ofthe catch 15 is provided with a longitudinally extendin slot or groove in which is secured an in which operates a spring member 21. The sprin member 21 is preferably secured at one eng only, the opposite or outer'edbeing `provided with two downwardly-proecting protuberances or ears 22 which project below the lower surface of the catch 15 and are adapted to be positioned on either side of the opening 16 extending through the curtain stiiening member 17 and member 18 and thereby prevent the curtain from inadvertentlyeslipping off the catch 15, although the mem r 21- is suiciently resilient to recede into the groove an amount necessary to brin the ears 22 out of lcontact with the'sides o Y theopening 16 when a sensible effort is made to cause a relative movement ofthe curtain '13 longitudinally of the catchl 15, thereby thecurtain 13 to be disengaged thereirom.

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adapted to engage an opening 16 formed in4 ower ede of thecurtain 13 (see Fi -44 'curtain 13 is released so lth'atit is v Inasmuch as the curtain 13 is being conl `stantly urged to inoperative position 1n the top `12, and is normally prevented from doing so bythe catch 15, .1t will be evident that if the curtain 13 is disengaged from the catch 15 it will'immediately riseto inopera-l tive position. The `present invention conent methods; the first, by simply pulling the curtain 13 outwardly olf of the catch 15, and the second,"by withdrawing the catch 15 into the bod y'out of engagement with the curtain13. Alsothe catch 15 in the last mentioned method is so connected with the door operating mechanism that upon turning ofthe door-latch handle to open the door 11, the catch 15 will be caused to recede into the door and allow the curtain 13 to recede into inoperative position. This release of the curtains is accomplished in the following manner. The catch 15 is longitudinally slidable in the upper door frame member 23, the frame member 23 being provided with a casing or recessed stam edv member 24 set into its upper face and aving suiicient bearing surfaces to support the catch 15.

ates such disengagement by two dier.

Off-set from the catch 15 and also provided with a bearing in the casing member 24 is a vertically disposed rock shaft 25 having its lower end projecting below the door frame member 23 and provlded with a radially disposed arm 26 at its upper end, the extending end of the arm 26 beingreceived in a horizontally disposed slot 27 in the -catch 15, so that rotary movement imparted to the shaft 25 causes a corresponding axial movement of Vthe latch 15. A coil spring 28 surrounding the latch 15 within the casing member is compressed between the arm 26 and a side of the casingl24 to prevent rattling of theparts and cause the latch 15 to' normally project beyond the edge o`f the door 11 as shown in Figureset and 5. An arm 29 is secured to y the lower end ofthe shaft 25 and is pivot v ally connected by the pin 30 to the link 31 whichin turn is connected to the up r end of the bell crank 32 which is ivote in the plane of the door 11 on the racket 33 secured to the door side frame member 34 on the *opening side of the door 11. The lower end, of the bell crank 32 is connected to the door latch 35 in such a manner that when the inside door latch handle 36 or outside -handle 36 is turned to unlatch the/door 11 to open the same, the bell crank 32 will be caused torotate about its pivot and draw the` link 31 and arm 29 with it, rotating the shaft 25 -and arm 26`and thereby cause the curtain latch pin 15 to be drawn out of the curtain 13 and into the-door 1l', whereby the to inoperative position.4

Although I have shown. .one specific method of actuating the bell'crank 32 by the door latch 35, itiwill be evident'that a free to rise .present invention.

v .variety of hook-ups between the two is withthe province of an ordinary 'mechanic and this invention is not limited to the specie connection shown which consists of au arm 37 non-rotatably secured to the shaft 38 of the door latch handles 36 and 36', the end of the arm 37 being provided'with a pin 39 which eng a slotted opening 40 in the lower end of t e bell crank 32. The opeiiing 40 is slotted to take care of anyfvariations in manufacture and assembly that might occur. It will be evident that when the handle 36 or 36 is turned to unlatch the door 11, the free end of the arm 37 will raise and cause the bell crank 32 to turn about its pivot as previously described which in turn causes the curtain latch` to recede into the door 11, thereby releasing the curtain 13. It is preferred that the connection between the door latch and curtain latch'15 be such that the curtain latch 1 5V is completely withdrawn into the `door before the door latch is completely freed from its jamb so that ity is capable of opening, thereby insuring that the curtain 13 will m-ve out of contact with the door 11 ,before the lattercan be opened. I

'It will be evident that th (principle ofthe construction above describe is applicable to an one of the'y great variety of styles of door atches on'the market and that the form of the curtain catch may be either of the sliding type shown or of a pivoting or other tipe and that such is within the province of t e ordinary mechanic and is within the Formal changes may be made in the 'specilic embodiment of the invention described without departing fromthe spirit andsubstance of the broad invention, the scope of which is commensurate with the appended claims.

What I claim is; i 1. The combination with a vehicle body having a door, and a top mounted thereon, of a side enclomre above said door movable into the vehicle top for inoperative posi- Y tion, and means for releasing said side en-` closure from o erative sitioncom rising a latch for hol 'ng the oor in el position, and means connected therewith for 1releasingsaid enclosure prior to the opening of said door.

2. The combination with a vehicle body ha a top, a door, a latch mounted therein and a vertically movable-side enclosure extensible therebetween, o f means for normally urging saidenclosure to inoperativeA position, means for holding ksaid enclosure in operative position, and means for releasin said holding means upon movement of'sai latch to openy said door. v

3.'In combination with a vehicle body 'having a top, a door, a latch mounted there.-

in, and a side enclosure carried by the top and movable thereinto for inoperative position,-of means normally urging said enclosure to ino erative position, a. catch for en- `gaging sai curtain to hold it in operative position, and means operated upon move-A ment of said latch for disengaging said catch from said curtain.

4. In combination with a vehicle` body ha a door and a top and a side enclosure extensible therebetween for operative position and withdrawable into said top for inoperative position, of a latch for holding said door in closed position, means for ho1d ing Asaid enclosure in operative position, and means operated upon movement of said latch for disengaging said holding means from said enclosure. l

5. In combination with a vehicle body havin a top and a'door, side enclosure extensib e therebetween for operative position, and -means normall urging said enclosure to inoperative position, 'of a catch for hcldtowards ino rative position,'an opening iny of said enclosure, an axially thelower e slidable pin in said door normally'projecting outwardlv therefrom to engage said opening thereby-to hold said enclosure in operative position, and linkages between said 'latch and .saidlpin whereby movement of said latchftofrelease said door from closed positionoperates to withdraw said" piu rom said opening'thereby allowing said enclosure to rise to inoperative position.

7. In combination with a vehicle body` having a top, a door and a .curtain extensible therebetween for operative position, said curtain vbeing constantly urged to ino rative position within said top, means for v olding said curtain in operative sition,' a latch for holding said door in cigsed osition, and meansinterconnecting said atch and said curtain holding means whereby movement of said latch to o n 'said door refleases said curtain from sai curtain holding lll' means, said interconnecting means releasing said curtain from said curtain'holding means.

before said latch is suiciently released to .permit said door to be o ned.

8. In combination wit a. vehicle having a top and bod i, and a curtain carried `by said top extensi e therefrom for operative posi tion and withdrawable thereinto for inoperative position, means for holding said curtain in operative position. comprising an opening in said curtain and a pin carried by said body adapted to be received in said opening, said pin having a groove and a spring element operable therein provided with a projection for retaining said curtain said pin.

.9. In combination with a vehicle having a top, va body having a door and a latch therefor, and a curtain supported by said top and extensible therefrom for operative posit-ion and withdrawable thereinto for inoperative osition, a catch supported by said door for etachably holding said curtain in operative position, and means controlled by the movement of said latch for releasing said catch from said curtain whereby the same may be returned to inoperative position.

10. In combination, a door having a latch provided with an operating handle, a pendant curtain hung independently of the door and having its lower edge disposed 'adjay cent said door, means for fastening the curtain to the door, and releasing means for said fastening means operatively connected with a portion lof said latch to be actuated thereby, whereb to yrelease the curtain fastening means w en the latch is released to open the door. j

11. In combination, a door having a latch provided with an operating handle, a pendant curtain hung independently of the door and having its lower edge disposed adjacent said door, a door-carried bolt projecting normally from the door into engagement with the curtain, and means o eratively connected with a portion of the oor latch and said bolt for withdrawing the latter from the curain when the latch is released to open the oor.

12. In combination, a door having a latch provided with anoperating handle to open said door, a pendant curtain hung independ- -operated to open said door.

ent-ly of the door and having its lower ed disposed adjacent said door, a bolt slidabl; carried by the door and normally projecting therefrom into engagement with the curtain,

and connecting means between said bolt and 1 means between said catch and a portion o 'i said latch'fo'r' withdrawing said catch'into the body when said latch is released to open the door, and means for automatically. returning said catch to extended position.

14. In combination` with a vehicle 'body having a door provided with a latch forrrr holding said doorin closed position and a. pendant curtain hung independently of the door and having its lower edge disposed adjacent said door, of means carried by the door for securing the curtain to the door,

and means to retract said securing means and also release the same from said curtain upon movement of said latch to open saiddoor. y,

15. In combination with a vehicle body having a door anda top and a side enclosure extensible therebetween for operative position, of a latch for holdin said door in closed position,a catch carried by the door for holding said enclosure in o erative position, and connecting means between said catch and said latch for disenga ing said catch `from the closure-when sai latch is Signed by me at Detroit, Michigan, U. S. A., thls 18th day of November, 1925.

GEORGE N. LILYGREN. 

